2015 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,008 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 31 involved a crash and 74 involved a fire. 23 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideMay 10, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Campaign 21V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideAug 27, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Campaign 20V519000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
69 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, May 14, 2017
VEHICLE TENDS TO STEER ITSELF AND CAN AT TIME OF FREEWAY SPEEDS BE HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE IN A STARING LINE. VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL CAN GET STIFF AND WITH AND MOVEMENTS THE VEHICLE TENDS TO OVER CORRECT ITSELF. WHILE GOING DOWN A FREEWAY OR LONG STRAIGHT AWAY THE VEHICLE TENDS TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS BEING HELD TIGHT ON ONE PLACE.
Steering, Apr 17, 2017
WE PURCHASED OUR 2015 KIA OPTIMA NEW IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. AT ABOUT 11,000 MILES OUR PROBLEM STARTED. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL GETS REAL JERKY AND LOCKS UP. I HAVE TO JERK IT TO GET IT TO RELEASE AND THEN IT GOES THE OTHER DIRECTION. I HAVE TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO CONTROL IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT COULD EASILY CAUSE A TERRIBLE HEAD ON ACCIDENT. OUR DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AFTER DRIVING IT A COUPLE MILES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, STRESSFUL, AND MAKES MY SHOULDERS HURT SEVERELY. WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY AND NEED THIS FIXED. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SAFETY ISSUES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES TO GET THEM FIXED.
Steering, Jan 17, 2017
I HAVE HAD MY 2015 KIA FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS AND JUST STARTED TO NOTICE MY STEERING WOULD STICK WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE TO JERK ON THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGH SPEEDS AND IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE! I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, ALSO HAD THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM I WAS ENCOUNTERING. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR CAR JUST NOT MY CAR. ALSO THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AND CONTINUE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AS UNSAFE AS IT MAY SEEM UNTIL THERE WAS A RECALL. I WAS NOT VERY HAPPY. I COULD BE ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANY OTHER LOCATION, ANYTIME I GO OVER 45 I NOTICE THIS ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Dec 28, 2016
VEHICLE VEERS BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY KEEP CORRECTING THE WHEEL. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER AND THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BUT WAS NO BETTER. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THAT'S ALL THEY CAN DO.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 30, 2016
WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES THE STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO "STICK" AND THE WHEEL HAS TO BE JERKED A LITTLE TO MAKE STEERING FLUID ONCE AGAIN. I HAD THE WHEELS CHECKED TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T NEED AN ALIGNMENT AND IT IS BEING CHECKED NOW FOR THE STEERING ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Other or unspecified, Nov 30, 2016, crash
COMING OFF AN OFF RAMP ON GREENBRIAR SOUTH IN CHESAPEAK VIRGINIA, I HEARD A CRACKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE CAR. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD NOR WAS THERE ANY POT HOLES. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND WHEN I STARTED PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT I CONTINUED TO DRIFT RIGHT. I THEN LANDED INTO A GUARD RAIL AT APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS A WITNESS BEHIND ME THAT CAN ATTEST TO THIS INCIDENT. THE TIE ROD END HAD BROKEN CLEAN IN HALF AS IF IT WAS CUT WITH A PAIR OF SICCORS WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE ALL STEERING CAPABILITY THEN ULTIMATELY CAUSED ME TO COLLIDE WITH THE GUARD RAIL. BASICALLY DESTROYING MY FRONT END AND THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED. I WAS MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVED TURN ON AN OFF RAMP. OFF HIGHWAY 64.
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 7, 2016, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED IMMEDIATELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 01/27/17*LJ *TR
Steering, May 24, 2016
I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THAT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. IT VEERS TO THE LEFT AND WHEN CORRECTED, THEN VEERS TO THE RIGHT, THIS CONTINUES AS LONG AS YOU ARE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 50 AND 75 MILES AN HOUR. WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN THE CAR FEELS LOOSE AND SWAYS EASILY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.
Steering, Feb 16, 2016
THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE STEERING OF THE CAR WHEN IT GETS TO 45MPH AND HIGHER. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AT THE 12:00 POSITION AND TAKES A GOOD AMOUNT OF FORCE TO JERK IT OUT OF POSITION WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR JERKING AT LEAST 2' TO THE SIDE YOU HAVE TO JERK IT EVERY TIME. YOU CAN'T DRIVE IT LIKE A NORMAL CAR AND IT'S NOT SAFE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE TAKEN IT INTO KIA MULTIPLE TIMES TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. CORPORATE EVEN CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND IT IS ACTING "NORMALLY". IT IS NOT THE WAY WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE LETTING MY WIFE DRIVE HER CAR WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD IN IT ON THE HIGHWAY.
Steering, Nov 13, 2015
THE STREERING WILL PULL TO EITHER SIDE ESPECIALLY AT 55MPH OR BETTER. MADE SEVERAL CALL TO THE DEALER IN MEDIA AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE IN BEDFORD OHIO AND THE CLAIMED THERE IS NO PROBLEM,
Steering, Oct 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STEER. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Steering, Sep 14, 2015
WHEN DRIVING OUR 2015 KIA OPTIMA WITH 900 MILES VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE EXCEPT FOR SMALL TRIPS AROUND TOWN BUT ON A SMALL VACATION TRIP, I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS NOT STABLE AND IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL THE STEERING AND KEEPING MY VEHICLE STRAIGHT AT 60 MPH OR MORE. I NOTICED IT WOULD GO LEFT THEN I WOULD CORRECT IT THEN IT WOULD GO RIGHT. VERY UNSTABLE TO CONTROL HAD TO KEEP BOTH HANDS CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL. I HOPE SOME ONE LOOKS INTO THIS KIA PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM TAKING MY VEHICLE TO GET IT REPAIRED HOPEFULLY! THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T PAY ATTENTION ON THERE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I AM EXPERIENCE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, I COULD TELL IT IS A PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMEONE LOOKS INTO THIS ISSUE A.S.A.P. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR*JB
Steering, Aug 13, 2015
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT OR PULL TO THE LEFT. THEN WHEN I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AT FASTER SPEEDS I HAD TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. I HAD TO CONSTANTLY FIGHT WITH THE STEERING TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE CAR WOULD JUST VEER TO THE LEFT AND AFTER PULLING IT BACK STRAIGHT IT WOULD GO LEFT AGAIN. YOU NEVER KNEW WHICH DIRECTION THE CAR WOULD GO. IT IS A CONSTANT BATTLE WITH THE STEERING.
Steering, Apr 3, 2015
CANNOT CONTROL THE CAR STEERING. UNSAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS. WIND IS ALSO A FACTOR, MOVING THE CAR FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. CANNOT CHANGE LANES WITHOUT LOOSING CONTROL. VERY UNSAFE AND STRESSFUL TO DRIVE. *TR
Steering, Mar 28, 2015
THE CAR IS UNABLE TO KEEP A STRAIGHT COURSE WITHOUT CONSTANTLY STEERING CORRECTIONS. EYES CAN'T BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD EVEN TO LOOK AT THE REARVIEW MIRROR. IT WILL GO FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO THE OTHER WITH ANY MINOR BUMP OR EVEN ON A VERY FLAT SURFACE. WIGGLING OF THE STEERING IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP IT ON A STRAIGHT LINE BUT EYES HAVE TO BE ON THE ROAD 100%. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON ANY ROAD BUT SPECIALLY ON A TWO-LANE ROAD. ACCIDENTS INCLUDING HEAD-ON COLLISION ARE SURE TO HAPPEN. KIA IS NOT DOING MUCH/ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CAR IS ONLY 1500 MILES NOW. *TR
Steering, Mar 2, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SWUNG FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Steering, Feb 11, 2015
THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM , BUT STEERING CONTROL IS REALLY BAD. AS I AM GOING DOWN THE ROAD,(WORSE AS SPEED INCREASES) THE CAR WANDERS LEFT TO RIGHT WITH NO MIDDLE GROUND. SO IT IS NOT AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE AS I AM ALL OVER AND NOT JUST PULLING TO ONE SIDE. I HAVE TO KEEP ARMS LOCKED ON STEERING WHEEL TO TRY TO KEEP GOING STRAIGHT AND STILL JUST ISN'T ENOUGH. DEALER SAYS THAT'S WHAT KIAS DO.THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN , AS SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WILL CONE FROM THIS AND THE MAKER DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. LOOKING IN REAR OR SIDE VIEW MIRROR FOR A SECOND AND I CAN BE ON THE VERGE OF THE LANE NEXT TO ME. WHAT WORRIES ME MOST IS I SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS AND NO ONE HAS DONE A THING ABOUT IT. I LOVE THE KIA OPTIMA BUT HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED..MY FAULT FOR LACK OF RESEARCH, HOWEVER YOU WOULD THINK THE MANUFACTURER WOULD FIX AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THIS HAS TO BE FIXED ALREADY. *TR
Steering, Dec 2, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. UPDATED 01/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN
Steering, Oct 31, 2014
AS THE FIRST OWNER OF THE CAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED STEERING ISSUES THAT COULD BE DESCRIBED AS FEELING AS IF THE STEERING DOES NOT PROPERLY CENTER. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THE ISSUE BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES. THIS RESULTS IN A FEELING OF LACK OF SAFETY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY IN MODERATE - HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS OR ON NARROW ROADS. I INFORMED THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE CAR ABOUT THIS ISSUE. A MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DRIVE AND AGREED THAT THE CAR HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CONTACTED THE KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER WHO EVENTUALLY DECIDED THAT THE CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER THEN CONTACTED ME TO INFORM ME OF THIS. I CHOSE NOT TO ACCEPT THAT THIS SHOULD BE "NORMAL" AND ESCALATED THE ISSUE. KIA MOTORS AMERICA THEN CONTACTED ME DIRECTLY TO OFFER TO HAVE A DISTRICT MANAGER DRIVE THE CAR TO OBSERVE THE STEERING ISSUE. *TR